Gorgeous shot, and always a wonder when you see it. The flight from Philly to Andrews is so tight that the machine is probably level for, oh, two minutes before is commences descent. Not aware that the President was in Philly recently, so I think this might be a dated shot. But no matter. P.S. A Plane-spotter's paradise there, at KPHL, with fantastic vantage points from both ends of the main runway.
Tony- Yes that is true. Also, the "1" designation follows the President around no matter what military a/c he is on. If he is on any other Air Force aircraft then that one would get the designation of "Air Force 1". And if he was on a Navy aircraft it would be "Navy 1" and so on for the other branches.
Roy, I doubt POTUS would fly officially on a commercial flight considering security issues. Even if he were to fly as a private citizen, the airline would not change the call-sign.
Didn't mean as a commercial flight, just to use the a/c but it has never happened so I don't know if they would actually do it. His a/c are always there for long flights so there hasn't been a need to use a particular airline. (did some research after I made that comment.
If an incumbent president is traveling on a commercial flight or civil aircraft, its call sign is "Executive One".
This did indeed happen in 1973 when then President Richard Nixon traveled on a United Airlines DC-10 scheduled flight from Washington Dulles International Airport, KIAD, to Los Angeles International Airport, KLAX.
Were the Vice-President onboard a commercial or civil flight, or the President's family onboard such a flight, the call sign scheme is continued... e.g. - "Executive Two" for the V.P. and "Executive One Foxtrot" for presidential family members. This has also happened.
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